Biden, Emanuel, Craig and Butts Running SCOTUS Selection

[tekisui]

Source: Washington Post

(big snip)

The tape surfaced amid rising criticism of Sotomayor, perhaps a target because she is seen as a front-runner. Some lawyers who have practiced before her have complained of a domineering presence on the bench, and a lawyer who has been consulted on the Obama selection process but is not involved in compiling the list of candidates said Sotomayor may have to overcome a perception that she "doesn't play well with others."

(snip)

The lawyer who has been consulted by the administration said that if the candidates were divided into groups representing the judiciary, academia and politics, the likely front-runners would be Judge Diane P. Wood of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit; Elena Kagan, Obama's solicitor general and the former dean of Harvard Law School; and Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm (D), a Harvard Law graduate whose background running a large state dealing with severe hardship may qualify as the experience Obama is seeking.

In Philadelphia, many lawyers and judges said Obama would almost certainly choose a woman for the post. "Nobody knows who the nominee will be," said one judge attending the conference, "but everybody knows her gender."

Obama wants his choice in place by the first Monday of October, when the next court term begins.

To make that deadline, the administration would have to name its candidate no later than July in order for Congress to take up the nomination, although many are urging a vote before the Senate leaves on its August break.

Vice President Biden will be a key part of the process. A former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden has long personal relationships with its leadership and an insider's sense of how the process works.

Running the selection are White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, counsel Gregory B. Craig and deputy counsel Cassandra Q. Butts, a classmate of Obama's at Harvard Law. Obama has reached out to Republican and Democratic Senate leaders, seeking their recommendations. But the chance that he would veer from his own list, which began taking shape in December, is slim.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/05/AR2009050503633_2.html?sid=ST2009050503660

[Bicoastal]

1. Call me juvenile...

...but seeing the names Craig (as in Larry) and Butts (as in..ahem) made me giggle.

[Cha]

2. I saw Craig and I go

to myself..Is Larry still around? :silly:

[Jennicut]

3. Ha! I like this Craig a whole lot better.

Good to see Biden in there, he dealt with how many Supreme Court nominations...8?
Interesting that Obama has one of his old friend's in there.
He is so going to choose a woman.

[Thrill]

4. Not buying the suspense. Its going to be Kagan

Already vetted, Already been through the confirmation hearings, very young, smart, and good on all the issues we care about. Use to clerk for Abner Mikva, who is one of Obama's mentors. And she meets Obama's criteria.